Is Xander From Buffy Behind The Avengers Shawarma Joke? [Dinner Time]

Does everything go back to Buffy the Vampire Slayer? In my world, it often does but it frequently happens in Joss Whedon’s world too. This time the connection appears to be between the supernatural series and the shawarma scene at the end (not that end, the end after the credits) of The Avengers.

Dedicated Buffy fan J.P. Gagen found a video in the show’s bonus features that features Nicholas Brendon and Whedon discussing Nicholas’ audition for the role of Xander. Whedon mentions the one word that got Brendon the role: “shawarma”. And no, it doesn’t mean anything other than tasty meat grilled on a spit. After Brendon was finished with his audition he asked everyone if they wanted to go get some shawarma. Whedon was like, “This guy speaks to me.”